Auto Magazine

5 Signs it is Time to Change Your Auto Insurance

by Carsurfer Admin on 2018/08/21 in Auto Insurance with Comments Off

Car insurance is very important. There’s a lot that can go wrong when you take your car out for a drive. It is certainly a calculated risk. Having insurance can help protect you in situations where the worst happens. However, not every car insurance policy is equal. Some are better than others and may do a better job suiting your individualized needs. Don’t be afraid to switch plans or carriers if you can find a better deal. Below are five signs it may be time to change your car insurance.

Your Rates Keep Increasing

One reason to change your insurance coverage is if your rates keep going up. This is especially the case if you did nothing in particular to cause the rate increases. Some companies simply raise rates based on what demographics you belong too, and that can seem unfair. See if you can get an insurance quote for lower rates with the same kind of coverage elsewhere.

You Receive Poor Customer Service

The most important thing about your car insurance is the actual coverage. However, customer service should also be important. Poor customer service from indignant insurance representatives can also be a telling sign that you may have trouble filing a claim later on.

Filing a Claim Is Difficult

The only reason to pay insurance premiums is the promise that you’ll be able to file a claim when something goes wrong. There are some shady insurance companies out there that try to make the process of filing a claim as difficult as possible. If that is the case with your insurer, you should find better options.

You’re Buying a New Car

If you are looking for a new car to buy, you should also consider looking for a new company to insure it with. Sticking with your old insurer even after you change vehicles may not be wise. You may end up missing many of the discounts you would get with a new insurer.

Your Situation Changes

Insurance companies charge drivers different rates based on certain criteria. If you are moving, getting married or your teen starts driving, you may see rate increases. Young men pay the most for car insurance. Look for quotes from other companies to see if you can avoid these increases.

It’s important to have car insurance. However, you shouldn’t be satisfied with lousy coverage or poor customer service. The auto insurance market is large. Look around until you can find the best deal for the best coverage.

A Few Things You Should Know About Buying a Franchise

by Carsurfer Admin on 2018/08/17 in On the Road with Comments Off

Buying a franchise may seem like a great idea, and in truth, it is. There is no better way to start a business than to buy a franchise. You hit the ground running, and your success has a better chance than if you started a business from scratch. However, there are a few things you should know about buying a franchise. The following are a few of the more important aspects to it.

There are various selling prices

The amount of money you need to buy a franchise can vary greatly. The more profitable and well know the franchise is, the more it will cost you. Also, the higher the projected revenues for a particular franchise, the higher the price can be. You can spend a million dollars for a franchise, but you can spend a few thousand dollars as well. Often the lower cost franchises are the riskiest, and likewise, the more expensive franchises have the least amount of risk.

You don’t have to be an expert

Although you should have business experience and should have some educational background in business, you don’t necessarily need to have expertise in the specific franchise that you are buying. For example, one of the areas to consider is with cars. There are many auto repair franchise opportunities offer tremendous potential. However, you don’t necessarily need to be an auto mechanic to buy one of these franchises. One of the most important business skills you will need with any franchise is the ability to manage a company.

Take your time and evaluate the opportunity

There are different ways to evaluate a franchise, but you need to remember it is not all about the revenue and how quickly you project to earn back your initial investment. You need to look at other things such as how much training and support 6that the company will provide you. A company should be motivated to help their franchisees succeed. If not, this is a bad sign. You should also take the time to speak to a current franchise owner and see what he or she has to say about the company.

The things mentioned above are only a few ideas to keep in mind. Always do a lot of research.

How to Recover from an Automobile Accident as Quickly as Possible

by Carsurfer Admin on 2018/08/14 in Auto Accident with Comments Off

Driving a vehicle on a daily basis is a practical necessity for many people. When you were looking to drive your car, you are always taking on some risk of getting into an auto accident. If you are in an auto accident, you could end up getting hurt or injured during the crash. While this can be hard to deal with, there are things that you can do to ensure that you are able to recover as quickly as possible.

Get Checked out Immediately

After you have been in an auto accident, you should make sure that you are checked out by a doctor immediately. Even if you feel fine, there could be some head or internal injuries that could be causing more serious damage. By receiving a full medical examination, you will be assured as to whether or not you are injured.

See a Specialist

If you feel a certain type of pain or discomfort after an auto accident, you should consider seeing a specialist. For example, if you are having issues with back pain, seeing a spine specialist like an accident recovery chiropractic could be very beneficial. They will be able to provide a more thorough examination and determine what exactly is causing you pain. This could then allow them to create a treatment plan that will work for you.

Follow Guidance

Once you have seen a doctor, it is important that you follow the guidance of the medical professional. In many situations, there will be a very strict set of rules and procedures that you will need to follow. This can include restricting some physical activities, going to see the doctor on a regular basis, and even doing therapy at home. By following the schedule, you will be able to stay on track and eventually recover fully.

Obtain Resources

Finally, it is important that you take advantage of your resources as much as possible. If you have been in an accident and incur an injury, you should be entitled to an insurance claim from either your insurance company or the insurance company for the at-fault party. This should help to provide you with the protection that you need to pay for any medical and therapy bills that arise.

Ultimately, when you are looking to recover from an auto accident injury, you need to make sure that you are diligent about your care. The only way that you will be able to recover is if you consider your recovery a top priority and take it seriously.

Corolla vs. Camry – Which Is Right For Me?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2018/08/09 in Toyota with Comments Off

The Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry dominate the sedan market with their reputation, efficiency, and reliability. While they both look similar at first glance, each vehicle brings a different personality.

Corollas bring a sleek and fuel-efficient appeal and Camrys catch the eyes of those looking for a vehicle with more power and space. If you’re in the market for a new Toyota and you’re tied between two of the best-selling sedans, then you’ve come to the right place. So, let’s compare:

Exterior

In terms of exterior design, Corolla is considered a small-sized sedan while the Camry is considered a midsize sedan. Corolla’s smaller size has a light-weight, economical design to it while creating an aerodynamic, sport-like feel. Its sleek look is noticeable in its sharply curved headlights and thin grille.

While both are the same height, the Camry is both longer and wider. The Carmy’s larger build showcases a more sloping roofline with sculpted headlights in the newer models creating a more rounded and welcoming look.

The color palette for the Camry includes Ruby Flare, Blue Crush, Galactic Aqua, and Midnight Black, while the Corolla’s palette includes Barcelona Red, Slate Metallic, and Black Sand. Swing by a Toyota Dealership Beaverton to see more color options and customization.

Interior

The interior of both vehicles is different in many ways. The base model of the Corolla’s interior has more hard plastics with higher-end soft-touch available for premium upgrades. It resembles a sport-like design with sport gauge cluster, color multi-information display, paddle shifters, and Sport Mode.

The Camry’s base model has a mix of higher-end plastics along with the more inexpensive and firm seating arrangement. However, the user-friendly buttons and knobs along with the tiger eye wood and upholstery finish gives it a more premium design despite the lack of comfortability.

Trunk space is drastically different here. The Camry does have more trunk space sitting at up to 15.1 cubic feet in the 2018 model, while the Corolla is at 13 cubic feet. In the Camry there are split folding seats so you can carry long cargo such as hockey sticks or wood.

The Camry overall is geared toward a more spacious cabin experience (especially if you have a family that you’ll be constantly fitting in the back) while the Corolla is geared to everyday commuters looking for a sleek vehicle. Visit a Toyota Dealership Beaverton and see the space of each vehicle for yourself.

Technology

The technology is similar in both the base Camry and Corolla models. It includes an array of standard infotainment technology like a six-speaker stereo system, a USB port, and Bluetooth. The Corolla has a 6.1-inch touch screen that comes standard.

The Camry has a bit more, including a 7-inch touch screen with the Toyota Entune infotainment system and Toyota’s Scout GPS Link app navigation, which connects to your smartphone.

Seating

Both Toyotas fit five passengers. Seat comfort is important, especially if you plan on doing a lot of driving. The Corolla is more spacious (until you get to the sport vehicles) and gives more legroom in the front and back than the Camry. The Camry has firmer seating and a tighter fit, especially for taller passengers who sit in the back and require more legroom.

Performance

The Corolla’s performance is comparable to an average car when it comes to the bumps and imperfections on the road. The movement is maneuverable, but not compared to a sports vehicle. Acceleration and power for the Corolla is just good enough for commuting around town, and merging onto a highway can be underwhelming.

The Camry beats the Corolla here with with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque engine. Handling/steering, ride quality, and suspension-absorbing bumps are smooth, making for a higher level of performance.

The engine in the Camry emphasizes power over the Corolla, which sits at 1.8-liter 4-cylinder with 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. However, while the Corolla’s engine offers less power, it does have greater fuel economy. Fuel efficiency for the Toyota Corolla is 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg highway, while the Camry is 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. Only the Corolla is available with a manual transmission.

Safety

Toyota Camry and Corolla are comparable in regards to safety with state-of-the-art features to keep your ride as safe as possible.The basic packages includes Toyota Safety Sense, a bundle of applications that include a Pre-Collision System with pedestrian detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control to detect distance between you and the next vehicle while in cruise control, Lane Departure Alert (a camera to detect visible painted lines to keep you in your lane), and more. The consistency in innovation with Toyota’s safety features protects people and prevents accidents.

Price

If it boils down to affordability, the Corolla is less expensive for a brand new car with its low starting price making a good fit for first-time buyers. The most expensive model is less expensive than the base Camry, however, the difference in value is made up for by the Camry’s larger size. Both are similar in cost maintenance, and you will be receiving the best customer service and after sales service at your local Toyota dealership.

Toyota Camry and Corolla are both excellent cars and can fulfill your needs whether you live in the city or suburbs. Ultimately, if you want a vehicle with more power, larger trunk space, and catered to driving in a group, the Camry is likely best for you.

If you are looking for something more affordable with maximized fuel efficiency and a sleeker appearance, the Corolla should be your first choice.

At the end of the day, it’s about seeing what features matter most for you and then getting behind the wheel to take each for a test drive, and with a try before you buy option at your Toyota dealership in Beaverton, you’ll drive away in the best fit for you.

How to Protect Your Vehicle’s Paint from Sun Damage

by Carsurfer Admin on 2018/08/03 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off

If your car is left exposed to the sun, it could wreak havoc on its paint job. Fortunately, there are many different steps that you can take to keep your car away from the glare of the sun’s rays. Let’s look at a few of the ways to avoid the cost of fixing faded or chipped vehicle paint.

Park in a Garage or Shaded Area

When you arrive at work, try to park your car in a shaded area or in a covered garage if possible. This will limit or eliminate the amount of sun that your vehicle is exposed to. If you have to park it in a sunny spot when you first get to your place of employment, try to move it during your morning break or during lunch.

Use a Car Cover

Car covers are made of white or tan material that will deflect the sun’s rays away from it. In addition to keeping the paint from chipping or cracking because of sun exposure, it can also protect it from being scratched by rocks or passing pedestrians. Furthermore, a car cover can also be a great tool to protect your vehicle from thieves because it takes time to remove.

Have a Carport Installed at Home

The lack of a garage at home doesn’t mean that you have to keep your car under the hot sun all day. A carport is relatively easy to install, and it will provide adequate protection from sun and other elements such as wind and rain. It can also provide protection against ice and snow during the colder months.

Wash and Wax Your Car Regularly

Washing your car can keep it free of fine scratches that may exacerbate any damage done when left out on a sunny day. Waxing your vehicle can add a layer of protection against ultraviolet rays that play a role in the car’s paint fading. A layer of wax may also prevent dust, pollen and other debris from sticking to the surface of the car. Ideally, the car will be washed and waxed by hand for the best results, but going to a car wash can also be effective.

The paint on a vehicle does more than just make it look good. It can act as a barrier against rust or other body and frame damage. Therefore, protecting your car’s paint from the sun can keep it running for many years to come while also preserving its resale value.